The announcement was made during a meeting in Lahore between Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Bangladesh’s Minister for Religious Affairs, Dr. Khalid Hussain.

The meeting was also attended by PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, H.E. MD Iqbal Hussain Khan.

Maryam Nawaz praised Bangladesh’s success in the garment industry, microfinance, and women’s empowerment, calling them key drivers of social progress.

She expressed Punjab’s interest in collaborating with Bangladesh in green energy, flood management, and sustainable agriculture, to strengthen regional cooperation.

Nawaz Sharif highlighted the historic connection between Pakistan and Bangladesh, recalling national hero MM Alam with pride.

He appreciated Bangladesh’s economic progress and its focus on public welfare, emphasizing the importance of building closer ties.

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Dr. Khalid Hussain commended the Nawaz family’s contributions to Pakistan’s development and praised Maryam Nawaz’s leadership.

He also reaffirmed Dhaka’s commitment to deepening relations with Islamabad.

High Commissioner MD Iqbal Hussain Khan acknowledged Nawaz Sharif’s pivotal role in Pakistan’s nuclear program and noted that Bangladesh’s younger generation holds him in high regard.

He also appreciated Maryam Nawaz’s welfare initiatives for the people of Punjab.

Bangladesh’s 500 scholarships mark a fresh step in Pakistan-Bangladesh ties, using education to build stronger bonds.

The presence of Maryam and Nawaz Sharif highlights the diplomatic weight of the move, which could open doors for wider cooperation in trade, energy, and regional stability.